The Premier League is expected to continue as normal despite the prospect of a new national lockdown in England.
It was reported on Friday evening that the government were preparing to introduce a new lockdown in England after a surge in coronavirus cases.
When the first national lockdown was introduced in March, the sporting world - including the Premier League - ground to a halt.
A July resumption of last season has had a knock-on effect, with this season being delayed and squeezed into a shorter time period.
Any further delay would likely have huge implications on the football calendar, with Euro 2020 already rescheduled to next summer.
Yet the Athletic report that the Premier League is not expected to shut down in the face of a second national lockdown.
The government’s current rules see elite sport exempt from some coronavirus rules, such as quarantine periods.
Whilst some rules are still subject to change in a national lockdown, there is said to be confidence at the Premier League that fixtures can continue as planned.
That is in part due to the strict testing arrangements that have been introduced into football since the original lockdown in March.
These protocols allow players to be tested regularly and isolated swiftly if they are found to be carrying the virus, which has lessened the impact a positive test has on football.
Earlier this month, Premier League CEO Richard Masters gave a reassurance that football behind closed doors had shown it can be a successful model when it comes to containing the virus.
He said: “We don’t feel the closed doors model is at risk at the moment.
“We think we’ve got a proven model that worked in Project Restart, and at the moment we’re happy, and so are government, that we can continue.”
